Chapter 9: The Filth of Aristocratic Families

Jiang Shengzhuo deftly dodged the attack, and upon seeing Chen Mubai's exasperated expression, finally avenged his "uncle". He left with a satisfied and cheerful smile.

Although she comes often, the Wangfu Garden is quite large, and Gu Jiusi usually follows a fixed route, with her destination being only the East Courtyard; she has never been to other places. Why would he need to say such things to provoke her?

Gu Jiu Si suddenly raised her eyes to look at Chen Mu Bai, staring at him coldly without saying a word, stubborn and indifferent

Gu Jiu Si cautiously glanced at Chen Ming Mo, but could not discern anything. Chen Ming Mo had navigated the political arena for decades, honing the ability to remain unperturbed despite the tumult within. Even if he sensed something, his expression would reveal not the slightest hint. Was he intending to tacitly approve it?

Gu Jiu Si looked up at Chen Mu Bai again, perhaps he did not dislike Jiang Sheng Zhuo as much as he thought. Perhaps Jiang Sheng Zhuo did not hold it against him

Chen Mubai approached the door of the study, ready to enter, when he was stopped by the guard. Chen Mubai raised an eyebrow, and the guard promptly reported.

Chen Mingmo slowly set down his chopsticks, "Right now, your foundation is still unstable; it is not the time to turn against me. The Dong family’s influence should not be underestimated, and then there is Chen Muzhao. Which of them is easy to deal with? The Chen family still has many elders; they are currently wary of me. If I were no longer here, do you think you would gain any advantage?"

Chen Mubai smiled at her, took the new chopsticks brought by the servant, and continued to eat.

Chen Mubai paused for a moment and said, "It is about that matter since you are no longer here."

Gu Jiu Si could not help but glance at Chen Mu Bai again; his expression showed no signs of abnormality.

Everything on the table appears normal, yet beneath it, a sudden burst of springtime reveals itself, as the stepson and stepmother's legs have long been entwined together

Chen Mingmo slammed the cup in his hand onto the table, causing the tea inside to splash out, "Impudent!"

Until he heard the creaking sound of the study door, followed by a mix of footsteps, he waited a moment longer before putting away his earlier expression and reaching out to pick up the teacup

She bent down to pick up the chopsticks, then stiffly straightened her body and looked at Chen Mubai in disbelief

Gu Jiu Si stood silently beside.

Chen Mubai's cold sarcasm, Chen Mingmo finds her useless, how should she and the library proceed on the path ahead

Chen Mubai suddenly turned around while walking, looking at Gu Jiusi with a smile that was not quite a smile. His pitch-black eyes were filled with mockery, and after a long pause, he spoke, "You have never been here? Logically, you should come here more often than I do."

Do not suppress your elder brother too harshly

Chen Mingmo was thoroughly enraged, and with a loud clap, he threw down his chopsticks and exclaimed, "Get out!"

It seems that Chen Mubai did not intend to continue making her feel embarrassed. After exchanging glances for a few seconds, he moved forward, wearing a relaxed expression as if nothing had happened. "Xiaokangzi, go to the kitchen and ask them to prepare a few more dishes that I love to eat."

She suddenly felt that Chen Mingmo was somewhat pitiable, a hero in decline, manipulated by the loved ones around him, truly both pitiful and sad

Gu Jiu Si, however, had lost all desire to eat, and indeed had fallen for the trick of the enemy again! She probably saw something she should not have seen, or perhaps Chen Mu Bai had deliberately let her see it.

This kind of aristocracy, beneath its glamorous surface, is rife with decadence and filth

Gu Jiu Si walked through the motions absentmindedly, when Chen Mu Bai suddenly turned his head to look at her, and at the same time, his chopsticks fell to the ground

Chen Mubai raised an eyebrow; he had experienced her sharp tongue before and seemed quite intrigued by her silent resistance

Chen Jingkang anxiously glanced at Chen Mubai and then at Gu Jiusi, truly fearing that in the next moment, the two would draw their swords and engage in a fierce battle, blood splattering three feet around

Jiang Shengzhuo lounged on the sofa and casually asked Chen Mubai, who was sitting behind the desk, "Chen San'er, tell me, logically speaking, you should call Meng Lai 'little mother.' Given my relationship with Meng Lai, shouldn't you also call me 'little father'?"

After the two individuals sat down, Chen Mubai spoke, "Is this your new pet?"

It was probably rare for Chen Mubai to return home for a meal, and Chen Mingmo, not wanting the father and son to be too estranged, waved his hand to dismiss the matter, "Alright, let's go eat first, Jiusi can come along too."

Gu Jiu Si sighed inwardly; she had not yet completed the task that Chen Ming Mo had assigned to her. Not to mention that they were not acquainted, Chen Mu Bai probably did not even know who Shu Hua was. Today, when she went to the Chen family, Chen Ming Mo would undoubtedly ask her about it. How was she supposed to respond then

The Chen family has always been strict about dining etiquette, where no one speaks during meals, leaving only the occasional sound of porcelain clinking.

After speaking, he poked the white rice in the bowl with his chopsticks, seemingly casually asking, "Did you put in too much water? Do you like your rice soft?"

Gu Jiu Si lightly nodded her head as a form of greeting, while Chen Mu Bai showed no trace of respect for his elder, lazily reclining on the sofa and scrutinizing the young woman up and down.

Gu Jiu Si only felt a headache; the noble family was as deep as the sea, and she neither understood it nor wished to understand it

He is overthinking; she is not a meddlesome person. She naturally understands that the more one knows, the quicker one dies. In such matters, she has always kept her distance as much as possible, not to mention that she simply cannot bring herself to speak about it.

After a few days, Chen Mubai finally convinced the investors from the United States, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief. He then began to stir things up again. Just after 4 o'clock, he started shouting that he wanted to return to the Chen family's old residence for dinner

Chen Mingmo, still seething with anger, asked, "What is it?"

Chen Mubai has always looked down upon speaking with this so-called elder brother, and after throwing down his chopsticks, he intends to leave

Gu Jiu Si secretly despised him, truly a twisted and childish person

Gu Jiu Si forgot that Chen Mu Bai was a person without taboos. He was completely indifferent to the prohibitions between a young stepmother and her stepson. To him, incest did not exist at all. He was that dark; he was the Satan of the night. He was unafraid of going to hell, and he wanted to drag everyone down to hell with him

Chen Mingmo picked up the chopsticks and threw them away, "Get lost!"

Meng Lai's face turned red and then white, white and then green

Chen Jingkang, wanting to escape from the tense atmosphere, quickly agreed and ran away in a flash

Chen Mubai supported his forehead and let out a muffled laugh

He is not wrong; Chen Mingmo often calls her here, or inquires about Chen Mubai's recent whereabouts, or asks her to do something. She is not one to speak without reservation; she knows she must find a balance between Chen Mingmo and Chen Mubai. If she leans too much towards one side, trouble will inevitably arise. But how easy is it to survive in such a narrow space? Does he really think she is willing to do this?

She was taken aback; was he afraid that she would report him to Old Chen

Old Master Chen was so enraged that the veins on his forehead throbbed, pointing at the door while trembling all over

Gu Jiu Si pondered all the way but could not figure out anything. By the time he came to his senses, the car had already arrived at the entrance of the Chen family's old residence

Chen Mubai was not the least bit frightened, "Is this what you can't bear to listen to? What is said outside is much harsher. Of course, you certainly can't hear it; who would dare to say it in front of you? However, when you are not around, that's another story. How about I share with you what I've heard to cheer you up?"

Chen Mingmo ignored his teasing, "If you have something to drink, just drink it. Why so much nonsense?"

When Gu Jiu Si came to her senses, she saw Chen Mu Bai staring at her, the icy glare in his eyes flying towards her like a dagger

Chen Mingmo is the kind of person who appears very sinister; a casual glance from him can send chills down one's spine. However, Chen Mubai seems to possess a built-in shielding system, feeling nothing at all, and continues to sit there nonchalantly.

Gu Jiu Si lowered his eyes and exhaled, as he intended to make her feel embarrassed. It was the busy afternoon hours, and in the small courtyard, guards and housekeepers occasionally passed by. Even Chen Jingkang, who was standing nearby, felt somewhat awkward and lowered his head to glance around.

Indeed, the next moment, a young woman walked in, linking arms with Chen Mingmo

Just as Chen Muyun was walking in, he was startled by this sentence, looking completely bewildered, "Dad... what happened to me..."

Or perhaps she is an expert in this regard, intending to have both father and son at her disposal

Chen Mubai turned his head and leisurely walked towards the door, lazily speaking, "Hurry up, I have been waiting for a long time"

Chen Mingmo seemed to have long been accustomed to his speaking style, showing no signs of anger, merely introducing in a casual tone, "This is your first meeting, Meng Lai, Chen Mubai"

Oh," Chen Mubai seemed to suddenly remember something, "I am not referring to you, why are you so agitated.

Please help me pick it up

Chen Mubai made a gesture, and the guard seemed somewhat hesitant, but ultimately stepped aside. After leaning by the door and listening for a few moments, Chen Mubai turned around with an unchanged expression and went to the adjacent flower hall to have tea

It was only when the light and heavy footsteps reached the entrance of the flower hall that Chen Mubai slowly spoke, "The water of the Yangtze River, the tea from Mount Mengding. Mengding Ganlu is indeed a fine drink, and it has brought the water of the Yangtze River from a thousand miles away. Old Chen truly knows how to enjoy life, completely unaware of the concept of frugality"

Today, Mr. Chen went to the military base to observe a military exercise. He returned at noon and called a few people to hold a meeting inside, and they have not come out all afternoon

Chen Muyun glanced at the dining table, seemingly understanding something, and her expression changed instantly. "Oh, you didn't mention me? So, it seems that Young Master Mu has upset you again?"

Chen Mubai was overwhelmed with stress, and upon hearing this, anger flared up within him. He picked up the folder beside him and threw it at Jiang Shengzhuo, shouting, "Get lost!"

Chen Mubai took a few steps and suddenly turned around to ask, "By the way, when will the matter you mentioned earlier be executed?"

Jiang Shengzhuo has heard some things about the entanglement between Qiao Lexi and Meng Lai. Ever since Qiao Lexi left, she has also noticed the changes in Jiang Shengzhuo. Watching the person she loves depart for a foreign land, yet being unable to do anything, must be a difficult feeling to endure

Chen Mubai wore a hesitant expression and said, "Forgive me for being presumptuous, but may I ask if the relationship between the two of you is protected by law? If it is not legally protected, given that you have had so many concubines in the past, I truly do not know what number precedes the word 'mother'"

Gu Jiu Si did not know what Chen Mu Bai had heard; ever since he sat down, he remained in that position without moving, lost in thought with a calm expression on his face

Just as Gu Jiu Si felt that he was about to die under Chen Mu Bai's flying knife, Chen Ming Mo's voice slowly emerged

Gu Jiu Si and Chen Jing Kang exchanged a glance; the pretext of going out for a meal was false, but the discomfort of seeking out Chen Lao and Meng Lai was genuine

Gu Jiu Si cast a wary glance at him, as if he already knew that the chopsticks would fall.

Gu Jiu Si let out a sigh in his heart, realizing that Chen Mu Bai had indeed come to pick a fight

Chen Mingmo took a sip of tea and said, "Although you are of similar age, the hierarchy is there, so you should address each other accordingly."

Gu Jiu Si looked through the half-open door and saw Chen Mu Bai calmly and seriously focused on something, as if the person who had just lost his temper was not him at all. Gu Jiu Si suddenly had a feeling that perhaps Chen Mu Bai had not been angry at all; he was merely trying to make Jiang Sheng Zhuo feel better, but could not express it directly, and it seemed that this was the only way to do so.

In front of the hall in the courtyard, there is a wisteria. It must be very beautiful when in bloom, but now only dry branches and leaves remain

Chen Mingmo's rise to the position of leader was not only due to his own capabilities but also significantly supported by the Dong family, his mother Chen Muyun's maternal family. This matter has always been a thorn in his heart

Every time Gu Jiu Si comes, he uses the side door or the back door; only when he comes with Chen Mu Bai does he use the front door, and indeed the scenery is different

Chen Mingmo furrowed his brows and impatiently said, "I wasn't talking about you!"

He occasionally utters such sharp words to remind her

However, that gaze appears to be quite improper.

Meng Lai greeted politely, "Third Young Master."

Every time Jiang Shengzhuo comes to disgust him, he will immediately go to disgust those two instigators, not losing an ounce.

She glanced at the girl in front of her, who was quite attractive and appeared gentle and amiable. Although she had received Chen Mingmo's approval, she did not exhibit any haughty arrogance. However, a woman who could stand beside Chen Mingmo would naturally not be as harmless as her appearance suggested

Chen Mubai casually replied, "Only those without ability rely on women"

Chen Muyun seemed to want to stop him, but was frightened back by a glance from Chen Moubai. This man, apart from the little influence from his mother's family, is practically worthless; he probably cannot even compete with that woman Meng Lai.

Chen Mingmo was about to erupt when the guard came in to announce that dinner was ready

The fire that Chen Mingmo had just suppressed flared up again, "What did you say?!"

She knows that everyone considers her a traitor, secretly mocking and looking down on her, yet she can only endure it

Gu Jiu Si glanced at Meng Lai again, clearly noting that she did not possess Chen Mu Bai's acting skills. Her small face was slightly flushed, resembling a little girl immersed in a sweet romance, unaware that it was a bottomless abyss. Moreover, compared to Chen Ming Mo, Chen Mu Bai was younger and more handsome. His proactive approach made it impossible for any woman to refuse.

Chen Mubai glanced at Meng Lai a few more times, and the look in his eyes was nothing like that of a stepson looking at his stepmother. He turned to Chen Mingmo and asked, "What do you think I should call her?"

Chen Mubai scoffed disdainfully, "The more fiercely we fight, the happier you are, aren't you?"